Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa (Onshore): Complete Guide (2026)
Published 2026-02-14
Key Facts — Subclass 820/801 at a Glance
Visa type: Two-stage — temporary (820) then permanent (801). Application cost (2025–26): $8,850 (single application covers both stages). Processing time: 12–24 months for the 820 (temporary stage), 24–36 months total for the 801 (permanent stage). You must be in Australia when you apply. Your Australian sponsor must be approved. Relationship must be genuine and continuing. You can include dependent children in your application. Once the 820 is granted, you have full work and study rights and access to Medicare.
What is the Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa?
The Subclass 820/801 is the onshore partner visa pathway for people who are in Australia and in a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. It is a two-stage visa: you first apply for the temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820), and approximately two years later you become eligible for the permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801). Both stages are covered by a single application — you do not need to apply separately for the 801. The 820/801 is for applicants who are already in Australia. If you are outside Australia, you would apply for the offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309/100) instead. The onshore application has the advantage of allowing you to remain in Australia on a bridging visa while your application is processed.
Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the 820/801, you must be in Australia at the time of application and at the time the 820 is decided. You must be the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. For married couples, you need a legally recognised marriage certificate. For de facto partners, you generally need to demonstrate that your relationship has existed for at least 12 months before you apply. However, this 12-month requirement can be waived if: you have a child together from the relationship, your de facto relationship is registered with a state or territory relationship register, or you are applying for a prospective marriage visa first. Your Australian partner must also be approved as a sponsor by the Department. Sponsors are assessed for character and any history of family violence or previous sponsorships. There is a limit of two partner visa sponsorships in a lifetime, with at least 5 years between sponsorships.
The Four Pillars of Relationship Evidence
This is the heart of your application. The Department assesses your relationship across four key areas, often called the 'four pillars'. Financial aspects: Evidence of shared finances, joint bank accounts, shared bills and expenses, jointly owned property or assets, shared insurance policies, and any financial interdependence. You do not need all of these — show what applies to your situation. Nature of the household: Evidence of living together, sharing domestic responsibilities, and presenting as a household. Joint lease or mortgage, shared mail to the same address, evidence of household tasks being shared. Social aspects: How your relationship is recognised by others. Statutory declarations from friends and family (Form 888) describing your relationship, photos together at events and milestones, evidence of travel together, social media posts, and shared social activities. Nature of your commitment: Evidence of your mutual commitment and future plans. Length of the relationship, knowledge of each other's backgrounds, shared goals, and any legal commitments such as wills naming each other. The Department does not expect perfect evidence across all four pillars — every relationship is different. What matters is that the overall picture demonstrates a genuine, committed relationship. However, the more evidence you provide, the stronger your case.
Form 888 Statutory Declarations
Form 888 declarations from friends and family are crucial supporting evidence. You should aim for 4–6 declarations from people who know you as a couple. Each declarant should describe how they know you, how long they have known you, specific examples of your relationship they have observed, and their opinion on the genuineness of your relationship. Declarations from people who knew you before and during your relationship are particularly valuable. A mix of perspectives (family members, friends, colleagues) strengthens your case. Each declaration must be witnessed by an authorised person (Justice of the Peace, lawyer, or other authorised witness). Declarants should write in their own words — the Department can tell when multiple declarations use identical language.
The Processing Timeline
Stage 1 — Bridging visa: When you lodge your onshore partner visa application, you are granted a Bridging Visa A. This visa does not come into effect until your current substantive visa expires. Once it activates, you can live and work in Australia with no restrictions while your application is processed. If you need to travel, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B before departing, or you may lose your bridging visa. Stage 2 — Subclass 820 (temporary): The Department processes your initial application. Current processing times are 12–24 months. During this time, a case officer may contact you for additional information or an interview. Once the 820 is granted, you have permanent work rights, access to Medicare, and can travel freely. Stage 3 — Subclass 801 (permanent): Approximately 2 years after your initial application (the 'eligibility date'), you become eligible for the permanent 801 visa. The Department will contact you to provide updated evidence that your relationship is still genuine and continuing. If everything is in order, the 801 is granted and you are a permanent resident. The entire process typically takes 2–3 years from application to permanent residency.
Costs and Financial Planning
The government application fee is $8,850 — this is one of the most expensive visa application fees in the Australian system. This single fee covers both the 820 and 801 stages. Additional applicants: $4,430 for each additional adult (e.g. adult children), $2,215 for each dependent child. Migration agent fees for partner visas typically range from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the complexity of your case. Other costs include medical examinations ($300–$500 per person), police checks from every country you have lived in for 12+ months ($50–$200 per country), translations of any documents not in English ($50–$150 per page for NAATI-certified translations), and relationship evidence gathering costs (photos, travel receipts, etc.). Total cost typically ranges from $12,000 to $18,000 for a standard application. Note: The government fee is non-refundable if your application is refused. Use our cost estimator at /tools/cost-estimator for a detailed calculation.
Special Circumstances
Family violence provisions: If your relationship breaks down due to family violence by your Australian sponsor, you may still be eligible for the permanent partner visa. The Department takes family violence very seriously and has specific provisions to protect victims. The evidence requirements are different in these cases — seek legal advice immediately. Relationship breakdown: If your relationship ends for reasons other than family violence before the permanent visa (801) is decided, your application will generally be refused. However, if you have dependent children from the relationship who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, there may be alternative pathways. Death of sponsor: If your sponsor passes away before the visa is decided, you may still be eligible under special provisions. Same-sex relationships: Same-sex relationships are treated identically to opposite-sex relationships for all partner visa purposes. Australia has recognised same-sex de facto relationships for immigration purposes since 2009.
Tips for a Strong 820/801 Application
Start collecting evidence from the very beginning of your relationship — do not wait until you are ready to apply. Keep copies of joint bills, leases, photos, messages, and travel records. Quality and variety of evidence matters more than volume — 50 pages of well-organised, relevant evidence is better than 500 pages of repetitive documents. Be honest and consistent in all your statements — inconsistencies between your written statements, your partner's statements, and your Form 888 declarations are major red flags. Prepare your Form 888 declarants — brief them on what information is helpful without scripting their responses. Respond promptly to any Department requests for information. Consider engaging a migration agent, particularly if your relationship has complexities such as limited time living together, cultural differences, significant age gaps, or previous visa issues.
Find an Agent for Your Partner Visa
Partner visa applications are emotionally and financially significant. A migration agent experienced in partner visas can help you organise your evidence effectively, identify and address potential weaknesses, draft compelling personal statements, and navigate the two-stage process. Search our directory at /migration-agents for agents who specialise in partner visas, visit our partner visa overview at /visa/partner-visa, or verify an agent's registration at /tools/mara-check.
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